Fence panel coupling



June 23, 1931. c, A. SPAUGH FENCE PANEL COUPLING Filed Jan. 2'7, 1930 C/iarZasA ATTORNEY Patented June 23, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I CHARLES A. SPAUGH, OF DURHAM, OKLAHOMA FENCE PANEL COUPLING Application filed January 27, 1930. Serial No. 423,838.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a portable fence, made up of a plurality of detachably connected panels, together' with a novel construction of means whereby the panels can be quickly and conveniently connected together or disconnected asthe occasion may requlre.

In carrying out the invention I contemplate a fence construction of the above mentioned i'l'il character, wherein each panelis also made up of a pair of hingedly connected sections,

whereby the sections can be moved one upon the other to materially reduce the size of each panel and thereby facilitate transporting the panels from place to place.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detail descriptionis read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the

invention residing in the construction, com- 'bination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this ap-:

7 the panels are connected together for use.

' Figure 2 is a detail view showing the end bars for each panel.

Figure 3 is a sectional view showing the end bars connected with the fence wires.

Figure 4; is a detail sectional view showing how theiadjacent panels are connected together.

Figure 5 is a detail view of the connecting element.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view showing how the panel sections are mounted on a pivot'post to permit of the folding of the panel sections.

' Figure 7 is a sectional view on line 77 of igure 6.

Figure 8 is a view showing how the panel is connected with a fencepost.

Figure 9 is a view looking from the opposite side of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a view taken at a right angle to Figure 9. H

Figure 1.1 is a transverse sectional view through a fence post of modified construction.

In the drawings 1 have illustrated a portion of a fence constructed in accordance with the present invention, and which fence is made up of panels indicated at 10, 11 and 12 respectively, and each panel can vary in size or dimensions without departing from the spirit of the invention. It will be noted that each panel is provided at its opposed ends with bars of the construction illustrated in Figure 2, and indicated at 13 and 14 respectively. The bar 13 at one end of each panel is provided with openings 15,

while the bar 14 at the other end of the panel is provided with a corresponding number of key-hole slots 16, each bar being preferably of the cross sectional contour as illustrated in Figure 3. The bars are constructed in this manner to accommodate a substantially U shaped connecting link 17, which links are employed to hold the panels connected in end to end relation as illustrated in Figure 1. It will be noted upon inspection of Figure 5 that one limb 18 of the connecting link is adapted to pass through the opening 15 in the adjacent bar 13, and is slightly longer than the other limb 19 of said link which is adapted to be received by the key-hole slots of the bar 14; carried by the adjacent panel. This limb 19 is also provided with opposed grooves or notches 20, so that after the limb is inserted in the large end of the key-hole slot 16 it is moved into the reduced portion thereof, whereupon the opposed walls of the slot are received by the grooves 20 and thereby prevent casual separation of the link from the panel. It will also be observed that the limb 18 of this link is provided with an opening 21 adapted to accommodate or receive a cotter pin 22. The construction thus far described provides a fence made up of panels which can be quickly and conveniently connected together or disconnected as deslred, so that the component parts of the fence can be readily and easily transported from place to place and set up for use.

Each panel is preferably made up of sections capable of being folded one upon the I 28 which'are held upon the rod by cotter pins sections indicated at 23 and 24 respectively, These sections are mounted upon a pivot post '25 for the purpose above mentloned, and it will be noted upon inspection of Figure 6 that the line wires 26 of the respective sections have their adjacent ends looped about thepivot rod as at 27. Arranged between the loops 27 of the various line wires are washers or the like 29. v

Each section also includes one or more j brace elements to wh ch the line wires are connected, and these brace elements may vary in construction without departing from the inventive idea. One of these brace elements is clearly illustrated in Figures 8 to 10 in-- elusive and preferably consist of a channel shaped bar 30 one side of which is notched to receive the line wires, and these wires are held associatedwith thebrace 'element byfmeans of staples 31 whichare adapted to straddle the line wires, and be passed through suitable openings in the element 30, and finally having their extremities extended in oppo-- site directions as indicated at 32.

Here'I desire to have it understood that 1 the panels or sections can vary in size'without departing from the inventive idea, and

' the'wire fabric can be of any desired con-' struction. In other words the wire can be woven fabric, barb wire, poultry wire or the like andthe particular kind of wire iused does not enter into the subject matter of the invention;

In. the instant disclosure I have illustrated woven wire, and when such wire isfused, the bracing elements or bars 30 are extended an appreciable distance above the upper edge of the panel or section and have secured thereto a strand of barb wire indi c'atedat 38 Forthis purpose the pivot post 25 is also extended above the upper edge ofthe panel or fence section, and the barbed strand is secured to the pivot 25 the same as the line strands 26. It will also be noted that 1 the barbed strand is terminally connected 7; with the end bars 13 and 14 respectively. In

Jaddition to this the lowermost edge of the 7 panel section'- also includes a barbed strand indicated at 39which is connected with. the

pivot 25fandthe bars 30 in the same mannor as described in connection with the barbed strand 38. 7

As hereinabove stated the fences are capable of being easily removed from the ground and transported from place to place and quickly and conveniently set up for use. When it is necessary to erect the fence upon sloping or irregular-ground, the end bars 13 and 1 1 of the adjacent panel sections, will of course be arranged. so relatively that the openings therein will be out of horizontal alignment, and to provide for this condition, I contemplatemaking use of couplings of various dimensions of the character illustrated at 17 in Figures 4t and oso that the coupling elements can properly enter the openings of the adjacent end bars of the respective sections as will be readily understood.

In Figure 11 I have illustrated a slightly modified construction of bracing element -Whichoonsists of achann'el shaped member groove 35 throughfthe. wall of which ispassed staples 36 for holding the line wires associated. with the bracing element. Fence posts indicated at 37 may be of any suitable conflstruct-iomand are used'atsuitably spaced points to support the fence. 3

While it is believed that from the foregolng' description the nature and advantages of the invention will be'readily apparent, I

desire to have it known that I do not limit myself to What is hereinillustratedand described, and that suchchanges may be resorted to when desired as fall within'the scope ofwhat is claimed. 'j-

What I claim is tion, companion barscarried by the adjacent ends offthe respective panels, and having openings therein and a U-shaped link having its limbs received by said openingsand detachably connecting said bars together, and

' each panel including a plurality of pivotally panels, one of said bars having openings therein, the other of said bars having keyhole slots, a substantially U-shaped link received by the adj accnt opening and slot of the respective bars for. connecting the panels together, and means for detachablyfholding the link associated with said bars.

3. wire fence constructionof the character described comprisinga pluralityof separable panels adapted to be arranged in end to end relation, companion bars carried by the A fence of the character'described com- "prising a plurality of detachable panels adapted to be arranged in end to end relaadjacent ends of the respective panels, each of said bars having transverse slots therein, U-shaped links having their limbs received by the corresponding openings of said bars and detachably connecting the panels together, each panel including a pivot post and a plurality of sections, the line wires of the respective sections being looped about the pivot post, whereby said sections are capable of being arranged in end to end relation for use or folded one upon the other when not in use, and spacing elements carried by the pivot post and arranged between the loops of the various line wires.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHARLES A. SPAUGH. 

